"The video game industry was once thought to be virtually recession proof; unfortunately, recession reality has intruded," notes Geoffrey Seiler, who adds, "Boosters, however, are pointing to new games scheduled for release later this year as a reason for optimism."

In his always-informative BullMarket.com, the advisors offers an in-depth review of the sector, highlights potential opportunities in GameStop (NYSE: GME), Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), and Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI).

"When you get right down to it, success in the video game business isn't much different from the movie business: developers are only as good as their last hit game.

Continue reading Video value? New titles boost gaming sector

Video value? New titles boost gaming sector originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"If you use a mobile phone with a camera, thank Tessera (NASDAQ: TSRA)," says Mike Cintolo in the Cabot Top Ten Report. "When it comes to miniaturization, Tessera is the go-to company."

"Tessera is one of the companies that drove the price of camera components down by miniaturizing them and combining them on a single chip.

"You'll find its technology in MP3 players, video games, wireless phones, computers and numerous other products where companies are forever working to design products smaller and manufacture them more cheaply.

Continue reading Tessera (TSRA): Digital miniaturization

Tessera (TSRA): Digital miniaturization originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We believe that the recent relative strength of tech stocks is the start of a longer term trend, not merely a flash in the pan," says Jim Oberweis and Dave Covas.

In The Oberweis Report, the money managers and small cap advisors explain, "Our confidence stems from the emergence of the next Killer Apps, which drive technology cycles because they change how we live our lives." Here, they make a case for technology and offer a trio of small cap favorites.

"During the 1980's and early 1990's, the personal computer was the Killer App. During the late 1990's, it was the Internet. During this decade - zilch. Until now. The next Killer Apps - video-on-demand and ubiquitous high-speed wireless connectivity - are coming.

Continue reading Wireless tech trio: 'Killer apps are coming'

Wireless tech trio: 'Killer apps are coming' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, Global advisors look to China.

Two leading advisors -- both with a noted focus on technical analysis -- look to Shanghai-based Shanda Interactive (NASDAQ: SNDA).

In his Ticker Tape Digest advisory service, Leo Fasciocco focuses on stocks breaking out of basing patterns and cconsiders Shanda a breakout buy.

Continue reading Shanda Interactive (SNDA) entertains China

Shanda Interactive (SNDA) entertains China originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Personally, I haven't played a video game since college; but I know the video game market is red hot," says Alex Green; here, the investment director for The Oxford Club takes a look at GameStop (NYSE: GME).

"With more than 5,100 stores throughout the United States and 15 other countries, GameStop is the world's largest video game retailer.

"Its stores include GameStop, EB Games and Electronics Boutique. It also publishes Game Informer, the industry's largest circulation video game magazine with more than 2.2 million paid subscribers.

Continue reading Gaming gains at GameStop (GME)

Gaming gains at GameStop (GME) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"While I've watched video game maker Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) for many years, I've never felt it was cheap," says growth stock specialist Nate Pile.

In his Nate's Notes, he now says, "I am thrilled to see the stock price finally experience the sort of pullback that justifies a buy rating; indeed, I wasn't interested at $50 four months ago, but at $17 today, I can't help but get excited."

"Over the years, Electronic Arts has amassed an impressive library of titles. In particular, you may be familiar with the entire Sims collection, as well as the company's extensive lineup of sports games (including Madden NFL and Tiger Woods PGA Tour, for example).

"In addition, Spore is a recently introduced hit, and some other titles you may be familiar with (or at least seen in TV commercials) include Need For Speed, Medal of Honor, and Rock Band.

Continue reading Electronic Arts (EA): A value in video gaming?

Electronic Arts (EA): A value in video gaming? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

"The video game industry provides the best entertainment value per dollar and has generally been considered a recession resistant industry," says Asif Suria.

In his SINLetter, the advisor looks to the newly combined game maker Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI) as his top investment idea for the coming year.

"October video game retail sales increased 18% year-over-year and software sales jumped a whopping 35% to $696.8 million. November proved to be another good month with both overall and software sales up 10% and 11% respectively.

"However looking at the stock of industry leader Electronics Arts, which has lost more than 70% since the start of this year, this hardly seems to be case. Competitor Take-Two Interactive fared a little better but still lost more than half its value over the same time period.

Continue reading Top Stock Picks '09: Activision Blizzard (ATVI)

Top Stock Picks '09: Activision Blizzard (ATVI) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

"Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) is the largest pure play in the critical video head-end infrastructure market," says tech guru Marcie Martin.

In Next Inning advisory service, she looks at his top pick for 2009, with "a solid balance sheet, excellent prospects for continued profitability and an attractive valuation."

The advisor explains, "Harmonic leads the world in HD encoding technology as well as a number of software-centric head-end technologies.

"It is also leading the world in the emerging Universal EDGE QAM markets with a new product that provides not only traditional EDGE QAM functions, but also adds Modular CMTS (M-CMTS) for DOCSIS 3.0 and SDV (Switched Digital Video).

"Following its leadership change in late 2005, HLIT has produced a record nine straight profitable quarters and boosted its gross profit margin from 35% in Q4 2005 to over 50% in its last reported quarter.

Continue reading Top Stock Picks '09: Harmonic (HLIT)

Top Stock Picks '09: Harmonic (HLIT) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"My top speculative pick for 2008 is Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT), a beneficiary of the 'video changes everything' theme," says Rusty Szurek with Next Inning.

"Harmonic is the only broad-line pure-play video infrastructure company of meaningful size left standing in the market today. Its three primary markets are cable, satellite and the budding world of telecom video or, as it's often called, IPTV.

"There is a war raging between these three competing methods for delivering TV programming. Fortunately for Harmonic, the bullets of differentiation these three industries are using in this war are derived from products Harmonic sells.

"Satellite operators are focused on leveraging HD programming through their inherent bandwidth advantage, but need to overcome weaknesses in downloaded video-on-demand. Cable companies are leveraging their inherent advantages to deliver rich video-on-demand experiences, but must quickly overcome bandwidth limitations to keep pace with satellite's rapid deployment of HD programming.

Continue reading Best Stocks for 2008: In tune with Harmonic (HLIT)

Best Stocks for 2008: In tune with Harmonic (HLIT) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.